-Browser Pone Safari pt.11-

>Anywho, you decide to check in on her
"Hey, Felicia, you alright over there?"
>"O-oh, yeah, I'm fine, just a bit excited - and nervous, I guess. You know, about the prospect of actually spending more time with people. I mean, yeah, I do shadowrun with you guys, but, like, I don't actually know you or Anon that well, Safari. I..like, I don't mean to sound rude."
"None taken, and yeah, I get that. Hell, Anon seems to be feeling a bit the same way, and he's only recently joined the group. Well, okay, that goes for me too, but without making this about me, I don't seem to get nervous around new people."
>X seems to be listening, observing
>And yet manages to somehow be a strong, reassuring and confident presence in the room
>"Heh. Really? It doesn't show on him, at least not that I can see. I guess you've got something to do with that, then?"
"A bit, but if he were a helpless case, I could move heaven and earth and he'd still be jungling n00bs in DOTA4. Or, more likely, be trying to get a grudge match with that one annoying, foul-mouthed player he told me about."
>"I...thought the entirety of the DOTA4 community were loud-mouthed sociopaths?"
"Fair point, but he's apparently hung up on one. Well, until I showed him the outside world and he forgot that petty little vendetta. I think. Of course, his adventures in the real world haven't been all fun and games for him"
>You emphasize the last sentence with a cringe in your voice
>>"Indeed, but now he's recovered, and you both know his limits for the moment. They may expand, but for now, no more snowboarding."
>X chuckles
"Heh. Yeah, and to be fair, he doesn't seem to have been turned off of going outside by that little thing. Props to the guy, all things considered. But this is getting off-topic, sorry."
>You look in Felicia's direction, even though it's dark
"Am I still all scary-like?"
>You smile and try to sound as gentle as you can, yet also playful
>"Heh, not personalitywise, I suppose."
>She supposes?
>Well, to be fair, she hasn't seen all sides of you yet
>Though, neither has Anon
>Hell, you're not sure if you yourself have seen all sides of yourself yet
>Being an AI is incredibly confusing at times
"Okay, so not personalitywise, at least not this far. I'm glad to hear that. Still does that mean I'm physically imposing? At 5"5' or so?"
>You can hear Felicia shake her head and give a tiny giggle
>"Not exactly, but...and I don't mean to, like, hurt your feelings or offend you or anything, but you can like, shapeshift and stuff, which is kind of really cool, but what if you're actually a serial killer and decide to become a wolf and eat me?"
>You raise an eyebrow
>Uncontrollable laughter bubbles from your throat
>You're pretty sure the boys can hear it through the wall
>>"Better call on the woodsman, then, no?"
>That prompts another round of laughter from you, obliterating your sides
>Finally, you manage to get yourself under control
"Oh man...heh, I'm really sorry about that, it's just...I hadn't thought of that. Nor how strange our AI properties, which I've become surprisingly good at taking for granted, seems to others. But yeah, when you mention it, we must seem pretty strange, yeah. Don't worry, though, as far as I can tell, we're programmed to not hurt anything of anyone. Great power, great responsibility, laws of robotics, all that good shit, ya know?"
>>"That is my current working hypothesis, as well."
>"I-I see...that actually helped a lot, even if it was incredibly silly of me to worry about anything like that."
"Hey, I'm just glad you feel better."
>"Mhm. So anyhow, isn't it time for me to get some sleep, and you two to like, power off or go into hibernation mode?"
>She seems truly clueless as to the nature of AIs
>Still, you're not gonna hold that against her
"Actually, we're fully-functioning biological beings with the need to sleep, but yeah, I agree, we should totally get to that, instead of gossip the night away"
>>"Seems like an idea. The boys are probably sleeping already, so we might want to be well-rested enough to keep up with them tomorrow. Besides, I get cranky without my beauty sleep."
>That's surprisingly wordy for X
>"I actually haven't seen you cranky before...and I'm not sure I want to."
"Ditto. So...good night, sweet dreams, don't let the skaven bite."

-You are Anon-

>"What do you suppose was so funny?" Leif asks, sounding both perplexed and amused?
>>"I don't know, and I'm not sure I can bring myself to care right now. Sleep now, yes yes."
>"Oh, come on Noah, are we really going to waste one of very limited chances we have to have some intimate guy-time?"
>>"Yes! Also, that came out sounding really gay!"
>You snigger and shake your head
"Aside from being, as far as I know at least, straight, I don't mind a chance to talk a bit. What is it they say, two's great, three's a crowd? I suppose that makes this dead from the start, but the point, I believe, is that it's a bit easier to connect on a deeper level the fewer people that are talking."
>"Exactly! I'm sure none of us here mind the girls, or anything like that, not at all, but chances for guys to actually have deep talks are surprisingly uncommon."
>>"Oh for the love of..."
>Noah goes quiet, then after a few seconds, you vaguely hear Slayer filtered through a pair of in-ear earpugs
>"Alright then, he's made his choice. So...mind telling me how you and Safari came to be partners?"
>You happily relay the story, short though it may be
>"That's pretty awesome. Maybe it's just me being a big optimist, but I see a lot of good stuff in your future."
"Heh, thanks, I'm hoping that comes true. Say, what's you and Xanthe's story? If I may ask, that is."
>He shrugs
>"Sure, I don't mind. It's really not anything special, though. She's actually a generation 2 AI, so she's one of the first intentionally made AIs. I don't know if I told ya, but I work in IT, right. And I have for quite a while, and I was one of the people tasked with replicating the phenomenon and making sure it was safe. Xanthe was one of the first we managed to...it feels wrong to say 'create', but you know what I mean. The suits weren't too impressed, though, considering we hadn't yet found a way to program them as we wished, and they really wanted to go for the 'custom AI companion' angle. But killing them was kind of not something they wanted to do for fear of stirring up a scandal, and when some of us offered to buy the 'prototypes' as it were. I could practically see the dollar signs in their eyes. Sometimes, Avarice is a positive force. Who would've guessed? So yeah, me and Xanthe just seemed to hit it off, ya know? And I'm aware she can come off as aloof and haughty, but she's really sweet. Ever played Baldur's Gate 2?
>You nod
"Yeah, got it from GOG."
>"Well, Xanthe reminds me a tiny bit of Jaheira, if I'm gonna make an easy comparison."
"Huh. Fair enough. So...what happened to the custom-programmed AI thing?"
>"Still a market for that, but it turns out most people enjoy the unpredictable nature of a naturally, organically learning companion AI - though we've tried to program in mental safeguards against the shock of suddenly being 'real', and...well, we were kind of required to try and put in pacifist tendencies in them, lest we create Skynet. I still feel a bit dirty about railroading their personalities like that, but it's a necessary evil."
>You nod
"Yeah, I see that. And it doesn't make me love Saff any less or anything."
>You pause
>Awkward silence
"Did I just say..."
>"You bet. Don't fret, I can sympathize."
>You can practically hear his grin.
>You give a slight laugh, then cough meaningfully
"Maybe we should get some sleep too?"
>You point to Noah, who fell asleep with his earplugs in, Slayer still blasting.
>"Sure. Night, bro."
"Night bro, no homo"
>You both chuckle

-Time skip to next morning, at breakfast-

>Looking around the table, everyone looks...surprisingly refreshed
>Well, hey, that's neat
>You notice Safari looks good today
>Actually, she does most days
>Shit, nigger, you may just be in love
>No shit, captain obvious
>But you're not sure you're feeling all the classic signs
>Sigh
>This kind of shit was so much easier when your human interaction was /a/, your waifu harem and the screaming trolls on dota4
>Also, you're falling in love with someone who's basically a program, right?
>You can't tell the difference, though, and if your hunch is right, neither can she
>Well, you got a real big hint back when you blurted this shit out to her
>Goddamn that was embarrassing
>Okay, bro, Occam's razor
>Simple explanation is, she's humanlike enough to actually be human, and you find her appealing, which is natural
>Not sure if you buy it, but goddamn, what else do you have?
>You push those thoughts aside and tear into the meat you got served
>It's...good, actually.
>You don't recognize the taste completely
"Hey, what kind of meat is this?"
>"Moose, why? Ya like it?" Leif answers as if he'd been anticipating your question
"Yeah, it's really good
>"Well, now you know, knowing is half the battle"
>That draws amused reactions from everyone
>You finish the meal in silence, although gazes are traded, causing the occasional giggle
>You yourself trade one with Saff, although it's more of a mutual acknowledgment that you two might need to talk
>You hope she doesn't take it the wrong way